UMass Amherst warns students to pass on pot

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In this Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 photo patient service associate Nelson Rivera III, left, sells medical cannabis products to Victoria Silva, of Amherst, Mass., right, at a New England Treatment Access medical marijuana dispensary, in Northampton, Mass. Within days perhaps, the medical marijuana dispensary in Northampton expects to receive the final go-ahead to throw its doors open to anyone 21 or older who wants to purchase cannabis products ranging from flower to edibles, creams and even suppositories. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

University of Massachusetts Amherst spokesman Edward Blaguszewski said the university has been warning students this fall about restrictions on pot use amid the rollout of legalized marijuana, “with an emphasis about knowing the facts and the policies about its use.”

“You may not use or possess marijuana, medical marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia in any form anywhere on University of Massachusetts Amherst property,” the school’s home page says, noting that federal law prohibits the use, possession or cultivation of the drug at educational institutions, while state law prohibits the use of marijuana anywhere in public — on or off campus — and if you are under 21.

“The academic impact of using marijuana includes lower GPA and delayed graduation,” the warning adds. “If drug testing is required, marijuana use can cause you to lose scholarships, jobs or internships.”

Norton Arbelaez, director of government affairs for New England Treatment Access, which runs a medical marijuana dispensary in Northampton, said it has received a license from the state Cannabis Control Commission for the sale of recreational pot, contingent on it passing a final inspection.

“We really see this as an expansion of our business instead of a shift,” Arbelaez said yesterday. “Our priority will continue to be our medical marijuana patients.”

But Northampton police say they are anticipating brisk business if NETA passes its final inspection.

“We are concerned about traffic,” Sgt. Patrick Moody said. “There will be a lot more people coming through town.”

And Northampton isn’t the only place facing that prospect.

The commission also has given licenses to two other medical marijuana dispensaries — Cultivate in Leicester and PharmaCannis Massachusetts in Wareham — to begin selling recreational pot if they pass final inspections.